AUS vs IND 2025: Aakash Chopra predicts India’s playing XI for perth ODI, leaves lut Kuldeep Yadav
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra names his predicted India XI for the first ODI against Australia in Perth, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav to strengthen the team’s batting depth.
As India prepares to face off against Australia in the first ODI of a three-match series at Optus Stadium, Perth, former cricketer Aakash Chopra has released his predicted India XI with some surprising selections. This match will signal the beginning of Shubman Gill’s era of captaincy in ODIs, as the national team begins its process of building a new core for the 2027 World Cup (in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe).
Chopra believes that India will go for experience at the top, naming Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as the openers, with Virat Kohli in at 3. With the middle order consisting of Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain and KL Rahul as first-choice wicketkeeper, this means that young Yashasvi Jaiswal will likely miss out on the opening match.
With Hardik Pandya unavailable due to injury, Chopra suggested taking a chance on Nitish Kumar Reddy in the lower middle order. To maintain balance, he named Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as spin-bowling all-rounders, which surprisingly drops Kuldeep Yadav from the XI, despite his superb performance in the Asia Cup 2025, where he was the tournament's leading wicket-taker after taking 17 wickets.
See Also: [WATCH] “Good friendship…”- Yashasvi Jaiswal shares bond with Shubman Gill and his leadership
Chopra's Take on Bowlers and Team Balance
Chopra asserted that they only missed out on Kuldeep to add depth to India's batting and keep the option open for changes on a fast wicket in Perth. He added that Axar and Washington could bat and provide some control in the middle overs, which could be extremely valuable in Australian conditions.
On the bowling side, with Jasprit Bumrah rested, Chopra opted for a pace attack of Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and the newly introduced Harshit Rana—who had recently been defended by head coach Gautam Gambhir after critics questioned the team selection. Prasidh Krishna will be sitting on the bench for the opening match of the series.
Aakash Chopra's predicted XI:
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.
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